Typical Day

A typical day at our residential addiction treatment center begins at 7 a.m. as patients wake up to beautiful mountain views and head to the dining hall for a healthy breakfast. After meetings with our medical team and 24-hour nursing staff, patients spend the day in a variety of individual and group therapy sessions and recovery lectures to help them address the issues underlying their addictive behavior.

Drug Rehab Program

In between therapy sessions and lectures, patients have a few minutes of free time to relax on our front porch, take a smoking break, socialize under our gazebo, read, journal and work on therapy assignments. Patients gather for a relaxing, family style dinner around 5 p.m.

After dinner, patients may team up for a volleyball or basketball game or participate in a group-building exercise before heading to a 12-Step group or AA/NA meeting. Residents at the Life Center learn about the 12 Steps, connect with a sponsor and attend a meeting a day as part of their program of recovery.

One of the benefits of small-town living is that we have a strong recovery community in the surrounding area with a number of people who are invested in the success of our patients. These caring individuals have been in recovery for many years and come to the Life Center to offer strength and hope to our patients.

On weekends, our staff takes patients for hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway, bowling, to a nearby recreation center with a weight room and track, and on other outings. Those who wish to attend religious services can participate in our non-denominational spiritual life program on Sunday evening.

Family visitors are welcome on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and patients who meet certain criteria may go out on “family passes” to restaurants, shopping and movies to spend quality time with their families. Around 11 p.m. each night, the lights go out as patients rest up for another day of recovery activities.

Sample Weekly Schedule

Meetings & Lectures

Community
At this meeting, residents may express any concerns they have about daily life at the Life Center of Galax, including social, staff, logistical and maintenance issues. This is also a time for the staff to graduate patients who are completing treatment that day. Graduates have a chance to address the community with words of thanks and encouragement as the group forms a circle around them and sings “Hit the Road Jack.”

Lecture
Our counselors lead interactive lectures on topics such as irrational fears, preventing self-sabotage, addictive thought and behavior patterns, stress management, grief, the disease of addiction, and the importance of AA/NA. On Wednesdays, patients attend daylong seminars on relapse, triggers and cravings, family dynamics, anger and other issues.

Study Assignments
Our counselors assign therapeutic assignments to each patient depending on their unique needs and goals. Examples of assignments include writing an autobiography and drug use history, grief letters, resentment letters, relapse prevention plans, and triggers and cravings management plans. Patients present their assignments during home group to receive feedback and support from their therapists and peers.

Therapy Groups

Home Group
Each counselor meets with their core group of patients to share feelings and discuss the issues underlying their drug or alcohol abuse. In this family-like setting, patients can openly and honestly share their struggles and triumphs with one another.

Family Group
We strongly encourage families to get involved in their loved one’s recovery. Prior to weekend family visits, patients and their families participate in family group. During this group session, our counselors educate families about the disease of addiction and help them address issues like enabling, codependency, communication and trust.

Alternative Group
Patients who do not have visitors on the weekend participate in alternative group. During this group session, residents discuss any struggles they encountered during the week and identify issues they need to work on the following week.

Gender Groups
Three times a week, men and women meet in gender-specific groups. In this secure environment, patients are able to explore more sensitive, personal issues. Women’s groups often address issues like trauma, abuse and self-image, while men’s groups frequently focus on anger management and expressing emotions.

Flex Group
In this group, patients process what they learned during lecture that day and have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our counselors.

Alumni Group
Individuals who completed treatment at the Life Center of Galax are joined by people in recovery who live in the community to discuss accountability, relapse, cravings and other issues and to get ongoing education, support and feedback from others in recovery.

12-Step Group
We host an AA/NA meeting at the Life Center every evening. Some of these are speaker meetings led by people who have been in recovery for many years and live in the local area. Individuals in recovery share their experience, strength and hope, which gives our patients new insights and shows them the potential for a brighter future.